70-Year-old Man Begins Attempt to Row Across Atlantic Ocean

A 70-year-old Norwegian man embarked on the biggest adventure of his life on Sunday -- an attempt to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Stein Hoff pushed off from a Manhattan pier, headed for England. He hopes to get there in about three months.

Hoff brought along all the supplies he needs, with no chase boats or other assistance. His 24-foot rowboat has GPS, a satellite phone and a VHF radio.

Hoff is recreating the 1896 journey of two Norwegian-Americans, George Harbo and Gabriel Samuelsen, the first people to row across an ocean. Robert Ripley wrote about them in his first "Ripley's Believe It or Not!"

Hoff's feat is sponsored by Ripley's, an entertainment franchise that will chronicle the trip with images on its blog and social media.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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